PM Modi’s words after ‘special gesture’ at King’s Airport in Bhutan

Prime Minister Modi will pay a two-day state visit to Bhutan from March 22 to 23.

Thimphu:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed gratitude to King Jigme Kesar Namgyel Wangchuk of Bhutan as he left the Himalayan nation after a two-day state visit.

As a special gesture, King Jigme Kesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Prime Minister Tshering Togai of Bhutan went to the airport to see him off.

Prime Minister Modi wrote on social media platform

Calling his state visit to Bhutan a very special one, PM Modi said, “I had the opportunity to meet His Majesty the King, Prime Minister @tsheringtobgay and other distinguished personalities of Bhutan. Our talks will contribute to the friendship between India and Bhutan Adding more vitality…I am also grateful to be awarded the Order of Drum Gyalpo.”

“I am deeply grateful to the people of Bhutan for their hospitality. India will always be a reliable friend and partner of Bhutan,” he further wrote.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi along with Prime Minister of Bhutan Dasho Tshering Tobgay jointly inaugurated the Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck Mother and Baby Hospital. Prime Minister of Bhutan Togai expressed his gratitude to the Indian government for fully funding the construction of the state-of-the-art hospital.

During the visit, Prime Minister Modi announced a huge aid of 100 billion rupees for Bhutan’s “13th Five-Year Plan” to further consolidate relations between the two countries.

Prime Minister Togai expressed appreciation for the move and praised Prime Minister Modi as a “friend and brother”. His visit to Bhutan was warmly welcomed by the citizens of Bhutan.

Prime Minister Modi was awarded the highest civilian honor in Bhutan, the Order of the Dragon Gyalpo. He became the first foreign dignitary to receive this award and the fourth person to do so.

According to the determined ranking and order of priority, the Order of Drum Gyalpo was established as an order of lifetime achievement and is the pinnacle of the Bhutanese honors system, taking precedence over all orders, decorations and medals.

During the two-day visit, Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister of Bhutan Togai reviewed various aspects of bilateral energy cooperation, welcomed expert-level discussions on the 1,200 MW Punatsangchhu-I hydropower project, and expressed their expectation for the project to be commissioned. The 1,020 MW Punatsangchhu-II hydropower project will be commissioned later this year.

Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Togai agreed that the India-Bhutan energy partnership has the potential to benefit both countries by enhancing energy security, strengthening the economy, creating employment, increasing export earnings and promoting further development of industrial and financial capabilities.

Prime Minister Modi will pay a two-day state visit to Bhutan from March 22 to 23. Upon his arrival, he was warmly welcomed by the Bhutanese people, who came to receive him warmly.